No one wants to get injured, no one wants to have to figure out how to pay exorbitant medical bills, and no one really wants to deal with insurance. No one really wants to work with an attorney either, for that matter.
But sometimes we don’t have a choice. Whether you were injured on the job or you were in a car accident, you may have to deal with all of these things, even if you don’t want to.
The first step is hiring an attorney you trust, but even after that, there are things you’ll want to know about your personal injury case.
Your Insurance Company May Be Watching
There’s a reason why insurance companies have a bad reputation. They can be a pain to deal with, no matter who you’re calling, but insurance companies that are dealing with a personal injury suit are especially nasty.
Insurance investigator tactics sometimes include surveillance. It’s common for insurance companies to use the internet and do social media searches, but they also sometimes engage in active surveillance. They might contact the witnesses in your case or talk to your friends, family, and colleagues, in addition to hiring private investigators to take pictures and video recordings of you.
They are looking for inconsistencies in your story. If they can provide evidence that shows you aren’t as injured as you claim, they have a better chance of winning the case and not providing you with any compensation.
Things Could Get Personal
Insurance companies will stop at nothing to prove that they shouldn’t pay you. Nothing is sacred.
Do yourself a favour and be prepared for bits of information about you to become common knowledge, even if you would rather it not be the case.
Just a few things that might end up out in the open include:
- Medical treatment records
- Employment records
- Social media activity
- Public records, like previous civil cases
There really isn’t anything you can do to prevent the insurance company from finding out things that you’d rather no one know. It’s a good idea to bring up any potential issues with your attorney and prepare yourself for what might come up.
You Probably Won’t Go to Court
You probably won’t have to go to court. Only four to five percent of all personal injury cases ever make it to trial, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
That’s a good thing. Depending on the information in your case, sitting through a trial can be painful. Not to mention, it can be time-consuming and costly.
Just don’t automatically assume that your case won’t go to trial. Someone has to be part of that four or five percent. There’s always a possibility that it could be you.
You can rest easy knowing that it probably won’t be you, but you shouldn’t be totally surprised if it is. Talk to your attorney about what they think. They will be able to tell you whether they think you’ll end up going to trial or not.
You Need to Track Your Expenses Carefully
Tracking your expenses isn’t as easy as it sounds on the surface. A lot can go into calculating the total for a personal injury settlement, so it’s important to slow down and take your time when figuring out exactly how much your injury is going to cost you.
It includes the obvious, like any costs you’ve incurred for medical treatments so far, but it also includes the cost of any future medical treatments. That’s why it’s so important to have your physician figure out the point of maximum medical improvement.
It’s not just medical expenses you have to consider. You’ll want to include any decrease in income due to your inability to work, as well as therapy, including mental health therapy.
Your Attorney Won’t Make Any Decisions Without Your Input
It can be very difficult to leave your future in the hands of your attorney. In a situation where you probably feel like you don’t have a lot of control, it’s easy to want to feel like you have control over your case.
And at the end of the day, that’s exactly what you have.
Your attorney won’t make any decisions without your input. They will tell you as soon as there is a change in your case and provide you with options, but they won’t move forward to draft a reply until they have spoken to you about it. At the end of the day, how your case unfolds is up to you.
You Have to Watch Out For Scams
More people are losing money to scams than ever before. Especially those who are most vulnerable, which includes those who are dealing with a personal injury.
Scammers like to prey on those who are at home dealing with a personal injury. Some are even technically legitimate, even if they are unfair. For example, some lending agencies will give you money in exchange for your settlement. However, what you get is only a small percentage of what they get. It’s much better to wait so you get the full amount you deserve.
It Could Take Awhile
The court system is notoriously slow. It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with a criminal trial or you’re working your way through a personal injury suit. Expect that it’s going to take a while.
Even the shortest cases can take a few months, while plenty of cases stretch to one year and even more. It all depends on how willing the insurance company is to negotiate.
Follow your attorney’s lead. They know how much they can push, or when it’s finally time to accept an offer.
Dealing with a personal injury case can be a nerve-racking experience. It’s normal to be nervous, but you can help your nerves when you have an idea of what to expect.
That way you aren’t alarmed if your case takes a surprising turn. By being educated, you can ask the right questions too, which means you and your attorney have the best chance possible to get a fair settlement.
